Experience selling photos on ShutterStock

Digital photographers and artists have another way to increase their income, which is selling photos on ShutterStock. Shutterstock is one of the platforms used by tens of millions of customers worldwide when looking for high-quality photos for work and projects, thereby opening up great opportunities for you to share your work and receive compensation. The article below  SaDesign  will guide you in detail on  how to sell photos on Shutterstock  and some valuable experiences to help you optimize profits from your photos, discover it now!.

1. Sign up for an account to sell photos on ShutterStock

To start selling photos on ShutterStock, you upload your photos to the platform. To do that, you first need a Shutterstock account. Here are detailed instructions for you to register an account to access the Shutterstock photo selling page:

1.1. Registration conditions

You must be 18 years of age or older.

You need to have a valid email address.

1.2. Shutterstock account registrat

Step 1: First, you should find and change the platform language to English for ease of use. Unfortunately, the website does not support Vietnamese yet.

Step 2: Click on the “Sign Up” button in the right corner to register for a Shutterstock account.

Step 3: Enter registration information according to the instructions on the page. You need to provide the following information:

Name: Enter your real name.

Display Name: This will be the same as your nickname on Shutterstock.

Email: You can use Gmail, Outlook, as long as the email address has not been previously registered with Shutterstock.

Password: Password must be 8 - 20 characters and include uppercase, lowercase and numbers.

If the information you enter is valid, a green check mark will appear on the right side of the input box, you can apply that password to the account. On the contrary, a red check mark appears, the password is invalid, you need to change the new password to be approved and successfully registered. 

Step 4: Once you have completed the registration information form, click “Next” to continue.

Step 5: Open and click to confirm the email in your email inbox at the link "Please click here…" to activate your account. Now you have successfully created a Shutterstock account, you can log in and learn how to post photos for sale.

Step 6: Log in to your account with the information you registered earlier. Then, you need to go to account management, click on “About you” to update your personal information. You should fill in all this information, including the type of camera you are using, photo format, etc. to increase the likelihood of successfully selling photos on the platform.

2. Basic information you need to know before selling photos on ShutterStock

To help you calculate profits and have an effective strategy for posting photos on Shutterstock, below is information about the price of selling photos on Shutterstock and the tax on selling photos that you need to know in detail:

2.1. Prices for selling photos on ShutterStock

For starters, each time a buyer pays for a photo, you will earn $0.25/photo. The selling price will be higher for copyrighted photos, unique content, rare. The special thing is that a photo can be sold multiple times to many different customers from all over the world, so your potential to sell photos will increase because the market is more open.

2.2. Tax on selling images on shutterstock

To get paid for selling photos on Shutterstock, you need to file taxes. Here's how:

Find and click on “Submit a new tax form”. Then fill in the information on the declaration form that appears on the screen. The required fields include:

Nationality: Shutterstock will ask, “Are you American?” Select No. 

Scale: You click to select the action of selling photos as an individual or an organization, select individual.

Contact address, personal information: Fill in all this information accurately and completely, pay attention to capitalizing the name without accents.

Tax code: This is not required. If you have never done business, it will not be available, so you do not need to enter it.

Once completed, sign and submit your tax return. Since you are not a US citizen, the process is simple and quick. For non-US citizens, the standard tax rate for selling photos on the platform is 30% of your total earnings. You may be eligible for a reduced tax rate depending on your situation, so be sure to provide accurate tax and personal information.

3. Instructions for selling photos on ShutterStock

To sell photos effectively on Shutterstock, you need to understand the types of photos you can sell as well as the specific requirements for each type. Below are detailed instructions for two popular forms of selling photos: selling photos for editorial purposes (Editorial) and selling photos with models (Model Release).

3.1. Quick Guide 

Once you have a Shutterstock account, the next step is to take photos and upload them to ShutterStock and wait for the money from selling photos from here. You can post videos and photos for sale on Shutterstock by following these steps:

Step 1: Upload photos to ShutterStock

In the account management section, find and select “Upload”, then click “Select” to select photos and videos directly from your computer and upload them to the browser. The photos you post for sale must be in PG or EPS format with a minimum resolution of 4 Megapixels. 

Step 2: Upload photo

Once the photo you want to sell has finished uploading, move on to the next step of posting it for sale. You will need to write a description of the photo, add keywords, location, etc., and make sure to present it in English to satisfy ShutterStock's requirements. If you are not confident in your English skills, use Google Translate to fully and accurately express the information you want to display.

Step 3: Complete the photo upload process

Finally, click the “Submit” button to complete the process of posting the photo for sale. The photo you post needs to wait for Shutterstock to review the content, this process usually takes 2-5 days. You will receive a notification of the photo after approval from Shutterstock via email and your photo will officially appear on ShutterStock, buyers can see and 

3.2. Detailed instructions for selling photos on ShutterStock

To sell photos effectively on Shutterstock, you need to understand the types of photos that can be sold as well as the specific requirements for each type. Below is some information to help you understand the regulations for selling photos in two forms: Selling photos for editorial purposes (Editorial) and selling photos with models (Model Release).

3.2.1. Selling photos for editorial purposes 

Selling photos for editorial use requires a clear understanding of the rules and restrictions associated with this type of photography. Here are some things to keep in mind with this type of listing:

Choose photo theme: Photos that are informative, report or reflect social, political, cultural or sporting events will be considered editorial photos.

No Model Release Required: You do not need a Model Release for these photos, but be careful not to use private or branded images.

Photo disclosure: When uploading photos to Shutterstock, you should mark your photo information as "Editorial". This lets buyers know that the photo cannot be used for commercial purposes.

Photo Caption: Write clear and accurate captions for your photos so that users can easily understand the context of the photo.

Compliance: Make sure your photo doesn't violate copyright, privacy policies, or any Shutterstock policies.

3.2.2. Sell model photos on ShutterStock with Model Release

With this category, when posting photos for sale, you need to get clear consent from the model through Model Release and it may take longer to review the content but bring higher selling value. Here are the necessary steps:

Select model: Operation is “Request Release” > Select “Model Release” and select Continue. 

Make sure the model you are photographing is over 18 years old and agrees to participate, and agrees to follow ShutterStock’s Model Release – this is a mandatory license. If the model is under 18, please select “Minor Release”.

Sign Model Release: You will need to prepare a Model Release for the model to sign indicating that the model agrees to allow their image to be used for commercial purposes.

Uploading Photos to Shutterstock: When uploading photos with models to Shutterstock, you must select the option that designates the photo as a Model Release. You can upload a copy of the Model Release along with the photo.

Provide necessary information: When declaring information for the photo, you need to provide the model's name and other relevant information.

Comply with Shutterstock policies: Just like selling editorial photos, you also need to make sure that the photo doesn't violate copyright or privacy regulations.

4. How to optimize selling photos on ShutterStock

ShutterStock is also a competitive market, there are many sellers here, so you need to have a "strategy" to post photos for sale so that the photos are always displayed in the first or top position, helping your photos receive access from more users who need to buy. Below is a standard process to help you optimize the sale of photos on ShutterStock effectively:

4.1. Understand and choose the right photo theme that suits the trend and needs

Customers on ShutterStock need to type keywords into the search box and browse through the photos that appear on the first page. So, in addition to improving the quality and quantity of your photos, understanding customer needs and optimizing keywords is extremely important to get your photos found, get noticed, and appear on the first page of search.

4.2. Check the level of interest

You can check which photos have sold many times and which photos are trending on the platform to better understand the customer demand for the larger topic. From there, choose and create photos with similar themes to increase the possibility of selling the photos.

4.3. Refer to the theme and description of the top photographer

Take a look at how top photographers write their titles and descriptions and learn how to optimize your own descriptions and keywords. Top photographers are the ones who sell the most photos on the first page of Popular. Apply this style to your photos to increase your chances of being found by customers.

4.4. Focus on keyword optimization

Scroll down to the bottom of the page to check out the keywords your best-selling photos are using. ShutterStock offers a Copy keywords to clipboard feature, which you can use in your photos to increase their chances of appearing in search results.

4.5. Check keywords from sold photos

ShutterStock provides information about the keywords customers use to find your sold photos. You can apply these keywords to other photos of yours on the same subject to attract more customers.

5. Experience selling photos on Shutterstock

Selling photos on ShutterStock is an attractive opportunity to make money, but you need to strictly follow the regulations to protect your rights and those of related parties. Below are some experiences you should remember to make the process of selling photos on ShutterStock a success:

5.1. You must be the owner of the photo

To avoid copyright infringement, use photos that you took or designed yourself, and have full ownership of the photo. You should limit the use of other people's photos or photos taken from unclear sources such as Google. In addition, for photos with sensitive content or photos of people, you need to have the right to use the image of the model and other objects in the photo.

5.2. No copyrighted content

Images that are easy to sell and generate a lot of profit should not contain any content that could infringe on copyright, such as text, logos, trademarks, or other artwork. And you also need to make sure that your work is unique and does not infringe on anyone's intellectual property rights.

5.3. Compliance with human rights laws and permitted content

Content posted for sale should be careful not to violate human rights or contain violence, discrimination, or hate speech. For images featuring models, please ensure that you have their consent through a Model Release provided by ShutterStock. For nude images, models must be 21 years of age or older.

5.4. Do not add signature or watermark

Photos uploaded to ShutterStock may not contain personal signatures, watermarks, or website addresses. ShutterStock has its own system in place to protect your rights when selling photos, so there is no need to add personal marks to photos.

5.5. Understand the rules and rights when posting photos for sale

You must be 18 years or older to register and sell photos on ShutterStock.

It is not allowed to use someone else's name to register an account or create more than one account on the platform.

Do not share your PayPal account or other payment method with anyone else. Each ShutterStock account must have its own separate payment method.

Always follow and adhere to all of the detailed policies and guidelines provided by ShutterStock. This is an important factor in ensuring your photos are approved and successfully sold.

6. Frequently Asked Questions

6.1. Why can't I sell my photos?

Many of you wonder why you can’t sell your photos on ShutterStock. After checking some accounts with this problem, we have come up with some typical mistakes below:

Post 1-2 photos and then give up. You need to post at least 50 because the more you post, the higher your chances of selling. Keep taking photos and posting regularly.

Make sure your photos are of good quality and meet ShutterStock's requirements for resolution and content.

You can sign up for online courses like the ones on SkillShare. Experts like Bex Morley, Anne Larkina, and Cat Coquillette will help you better understand how to write headlines, keywords, and optimize your photos for sale.

Be patient and don't give up early, post lots of photos and learn from good sellers.

6.2. Can photos taken with a phone be sold?

The answer is “YES”. Selling photos taken with your phone and posting them on ShutterStock is completely possible. You just need to make sure that the uploaded photos are of high quality, meet the correct resolution, size, have good lighting, are not blurry, shaky, etc. to satisfy all of ShutterStock’s requirements for posting and being approved and appearing on the platform.

6.3. Can I sell my paintings?

Yes, you can absolutely sell your artwork on ShutterStock. The platform accepts not only photographs but also digital art, hand-drawn artwork, and illustrations. Here are some things to keep in mind when selling your artwork on ShutterStock:

File Format: Artwork can be uploaded as JPG or EPS (for vector illustrations). Vector format is more sellable due to its versatility in use.

Quality Assurance: Hand-drawn artwork should be scanned or photographed at high resolution to ensure the best quality. If it is digital, you need to make sure the artwork meets ShutterStock's size and format requirements.

Choose accurate keywords and descriptions: Just like photos, paintings also need to be tagged with appropriate keywords and descriptions. This makes it easy for customers to find your work.

Copyright Compliant Content: Make sure your work doesn't infringe copyrights or use images from other sources.

6.4. Should I post my blended photos or should I leave the original color photos when posting Shutter?

Whether you post color-blended photos or keep them as originals on ShutterStock depends entirely on your goals and the needs of your target audience. Color-blended photos will stand out more in terms of color and emotion. This can attract buyers looking for pre-edited photos for advertising, design, or media projects.

Natural-colored stock photos are often preferred by designers and editors because they can be customized to their own needs. Stock photos may be better suited for projects that require authenticity, such as journalism, documentaries, or serious writing.

6.5. Can I take film photos and post them for sale?

Yes, photos taken with film cameras are acceptable for sale on ShutterStock, as long as they meet quality and resolution standards. To optimize film photos before uploading to ShutterStock, you will need to scan the film image into a digital file. Use a high-quality scanner to ensure resolution and image detail.

Film photos often have a classic, natural look, but you can still adjust brightness, contrast, and remove minor scratches without losing the film quality. Most importantly, you need to make sure the resolution of the photo meets ShutterStock's requirements for approval and successful sale.

6.6. Can transparent layered images be uploaded for sale?

Yes, transparent images can be sold on ShutterStock. These images are often edited and graphically processed, and are highly applicable to design, advertising, and many other creative fields. However, you need to pay attention to the basic technical requirements of the image before posting:

PNG or EPS file format.

Make sure your transparent images are high quality and have relevant content. 

Descriptive keywords accurately target specific usages so customers can find them easily.

Conclusion 
Selling photos on ShutterStock is not simply about uploading beautiful photos, but also a process that requires investment in time, skills and a reasonable marketing strategy. Hopefully, with the instructions and experiences shared in the article above, you will be more confident to start your journey of selling photos and have more investment, focus, and achieve more success in this field. Let's start now to explore the income potential from your artistic products!